KEY POINTS
- KenGen has more than tripled its renewable energy development pipeline to a 5,500-megawatt target.
- The company unveiled the bigger target while launching its first ever sustainability report Monday.
- New nuclear, hydro and geothermal capacity will drive Kenya’s planned green energy hub ambition.
Kenya’s biggest power producer has set a far bigger target. KenGen now plans to build a 5,500-megawatt renewable energy pipeline, up sharply from 1,500 megawatts.
The company announced the jump on Monday in Nairobi. It came as KenGen launched its first ever Sustainability Report. KenGen already supplies about 60 percent of Kenya’s electricity.
The report tracks the firm’s environmental, social and governance record for the 2024/25 financial year. It also lays out a bolder plan for Kenya’s clean energy shift.
The new target leans on fresh sources of power. KenGen points to 2,000 megawatts from nuclear and more than 700 megawatts from hydro. Expanded geothermal resources fill out the rest. The strategy sits under the company’s 10-year G2G 2034 plan.
A push to become a green energy hub
Rising investor confidence helped drive the decision. So did growing regional demand for clean power. KenGen wants Kenya to become a regional green energy hub. The pipeline forms a sizeable part of that ambition.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira praised the company at the launch. He said KenGen had built an ecosystem that draws investors.
That ecosystem offers cheap renewable power, geothermal steam and serviced industrial land. Wachira said energy could now move beyond homes to factories and jobs. He pointed to Olkaria, the country’s geothermal heartland, as living proof. Kenya, he said, stands ready for low-carbon investment.
Managing Director Peter Njenga called the report a defining moment. He said the company had responded decisively to a shifting energy landscape. Ambition had grown, he added, as opportunities widened.
Strong marks on climate and community
The numbers back up the ambition. KenGen ran a renewable dispatch rate of 94.4 percent last year. It generated 6.9 million carbon credits over the period. Its carbon intensity ranked among Africa’s lowest for electricity generators.
The company grew 887,220 tree seedlings, beating its annual target by seven percent. It restored 850 hectares of degraded land across its sites. KenGen has planted more than four million trees so far. It aims to reach nine million by 2034.
Communities gained too. The firm funded 237 scholarships and gave more than 42,300 households clean water.
Local suppliers won 69 percent of procurement, worth 10.01 billion shillings. The company also scored full marks on governance and transparency. The report follows global reporting standards and exchange disclosure rules.
Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno welcomed both the report and the wider goal. He said it showed the leadership Kenya needs for its climate targets. The company says it will keep delivering affordable, reliable and clean power.
